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ZIMBABWE was plunged into mourning early today following the news of the death of one of the country’s most illustrious patriots, nationalists, freedom fighters, army commander and businessman, General S olomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru.
A dark cloud hung and still hangs over the country over the untimely death of the former Zimbabwe National Liberation Army chief of operations, former Zimbabwe National Army commander, former Chikomba Member of Parliament, successful farmer and businessman.
The true story of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, independence and post-independence black empowerment cannot be complete without telling the vital role played by Cde Mujuru. It will be a serious omission bordering on fiction.
Born Solomon Mutusva in Chivhu, then Charter District, in 1945, Cde Mujuru attended Kwenda and Rufaro missions for his primary education and Zimuto Secondary School outside Masvingo.
So strong was his will to liberate his country that his political activism saw him being arrested while in Form 3.
He was later to leave the comfort of his job to join the liberation struggle in the 1960s as a member of the Zapu Youth League.
In 1966, Cde Mujuru joined the liberation struggle, only to be imprisoned at Khami and on his release in 1968, he skipped the country into Botswana.
From Botswana he managed to travel to Lusaka, Zambia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, now Russia for military training.
He did further military training in Bulgaria, Egypt and Tanzania and distinguished himself well in the war and in 1970 he was appointed to lead the group of 45 freedom fighters to cross into Zimbabwe from Mozambique’s Tete province.
That made him the first sectorial commander to lead a Zanla group of freedom fighters, responsible for the opening up of North-East zone of Zimbabwe.
He adopted the nom de guerre Rex Nhongo.
After 1975 Cde Mujuru was in charge of all Zanla forces outside Mozambique. A year later he was appointed commander of the Zimbabwe People’s Army (ZIPA).
As part of the Zanla supreme command, Cde Mujuru was responsible for the liberation forces’ entire military operations, supervision of deployment and movement of troops in Zimbabwe and coordinating the entire forces from a central command in Mozambique.
Just before Independence in 1980, Cde Mujuru led the advance platoon that performed the highly sensitive role of preparing the arrival of the leadership of PF Zapu and Zanu PF, organised and managed assembly points for Zanla and Zipra forces.
At independence the Zanla Commander became instrumental in the army leadership that helped form the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
He was soon to take over leadership of the army as a lieutenant general in 1981.
A man full of history of the liberation struggle that had seen him become second in command to the late General Josiah Magama Tongogara he remained resolute to the principles of the liberation struggle.
As a natural successor to General Tongagara he was easily accepted by the comrades that made the bulk of the combined national army. He was instrumental in the amalgamation of the three former warring parties at independence.
Cde Mujuru was at one time detained by police after he and a colleague had refused to leave a restaurant at Meikles Hotel because they did not wear a tie. The law was changed so anyone could dine without a tie.
General Mujuru took over the command of the Zimbabwe National Army after he was appointed Army Commander in 1981.
Cde Mujuru had one of the most difficult tasks of not only having to build an army but also to lead it into battle at the height of the destabilisation in independent Zimbabwe and when the need to protect the country trade routes to the Indian Ocean arose.
He was able to build stable, professional and well-trained armed forces upon which he and his fellow commanders bestowed the ever-cherished sense of loyalty to one’s country.
Peace and stability were critical for the emerging nation. Cde Mujuru achieved that with the expertise he had gained from years in the liberation struggle.
He was later promoted to full general in 1992 before retiring to go into business.
He went into politics after his retirement from active service in August 1992.
He remained in touch with men and women that he commanded which endeared him with the people.
The General was instrumental in the re-organisation of the war veterans advocating that they needed to be resettled to enter into productive farming.
On August 31, 1992 General Mujuru ended his military service, which had brought him the danger but ultimately honour, to become a civilian.
He left the service along with another gallant son of the soil, the late Air Chief Marshal Josiah Tungamirai.
Thus began another leg of his illustrious journey in serving his country.
In January 1995 Cde Mujuru was sworn in as Member of Parliament for Chikomba constituency. Cde Mujuru relinquished his seat in 2000 but remained a member of the Zanu-PF Central Committee and Politburo.
The late Cde Mujuru was a man of few words. Indeed action was what drove him, and rewarded him and his country.
Cde Mujuru was also a businessman and partly owned River Ranch diamond mines.
Cde Mujuru was also a farmer of note and his farm in Beatrice, where he sadly lost his life, was a shining example of the success of indigenous people of Zimbabwe.
Although controversy sometimes stalked the veteran nationalist, in his business and in politics, he maintained a stately silence that won him respect, reverence and even awe.
He never commented on newspaper stories, good or bad, right into his death.
Cde Mujuru had several accolades, including an honorary degree in law, appointment as a Grand Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit, and medals for Ten Years of Exemplary Service, the Long
Service Exemplary Award, and Lifetime Award in defence of Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
His was a commitment befitting a hero, his was a life well lived and finally, his journey has ended when almost all that he fought for was achieved.
Death is everyone’s and it comes when it must.
Online Reporter